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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:04:16

Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:04:16: Obviously, you will never type the same again.

(Check out the nasty hair plugs in the video. Ick!)

http://www.smartfishtechnologies.com/products-keyboard.php

(http://www.smartfishtechnologies.com/images/img-keyboard01.png)
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: washuai on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:29:49: They don't tell you the dimensions of the board. Even with the combined arrows/num pad/home etc., it looks too long for me. Is it scissor switches? Seems like that board wouldn't have the same kind of durability as the standard mechanical,given the motion motor, etc.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: mcdonc on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:48:05: That's a yarmakule.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:52:43: Quote from: mcdonc;205163
That's a yarmakule.

I almost believed you, till I looked at the video again. He should have waited for the plugs to grow out or worn a wiggie.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Forsaken on Thu, 22 July 2010, 00:56:18: It's pretty, I'll give it that much. But I think I'll stick to my Kinesis.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 22 July 2010, 01:08:17: I was thinking I need to stick a motor in my Kinesis to be cool.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: chimera15 on Thu, 22 July 2010, 01:18:43: Pretty interesting... It's kinda gimmicky. I have trouble believing that the board separating a few inches will make it more ergonomic, but anything's possible I suppose.
At least it's relatively inexpensive.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Cranergy on Thu, 22 July 2010, 01:21:03: I wonder how many people actually believe this kind of stuff... lol
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Input Nirvana on Thu, 22 July 2010, 01:21:09: Quote from: chimera15;205173
Pretty interesting... It's kinda gimmicky. I have trouble believing that the board separating a few inches will make it more ergonomic, but anything's possible I suppose.
At least it's relatively inexpensive.

My point exactly.
That and bad hair plugs.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: washuai on Thu, 22 July 2010, 01:22:12: I just want to sit someone down at a moving keyboard, without them knowing it moves. I think it'd make a great practical joke. Still, reactions to blank and rearranged keys are good enough.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: hyperlinked on Thu, 22 July 2010, 02:34:48: Quote from: Cranergy;205175
I wonder how many people actually believe this kind of stuff... lol

I'll admit to it... I do.

Well, actually I'm not sold that it works, but it's an interesting idea. By its very definition RSI is caused by doing the exact same motion over and over again until your muscles, tendons, ligaments, or joints develop pain or weakness. By changing the typing surface, they in effect change the exact motion that you're repeating, but the question is if it's changing it in any meaningful way.

I don't know if spreading the keys out or tilting the typing surface periodically does enough to change the motion, but it's an interesting idea and assuming the keyboard isn't total crap it'll probably be good for some RSI sufferers. The question is if it'll be more than a niche "therapy" and be useful to a wider audience.

If subtle adjustments like this are enough to reduce stress to your hands, then you might be able to get some of the same effect merely by changing your posture. It's interesting food for thought.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: MsKeyboard on Thu, 22 July 2010, 10:21:47: Typed on one at CES January, interesting idea that probably would make a decent product if it had been worked into a good board.

It always seems that the people who come up with these ideas forget that the type (no pun intended) of user this product is aimed towards actually need a better keyboard than the standard "throw one in the box with the new computer" variety.

This kind of system seems like a gimmick, but the need to remind people to step away from the keyboard once in awhile and stretch out your hands and wrists is real. If this is what it takes for someone, than mission accomplished.

YMMV.........................
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: firestorm on Thu, 22 July 2010, 10:37:15: I could never use that keyboard for the simple fact that I highly dislike flat keys. There is at least some separation to help you find the keys, but my initial impression is that it is form over function for at least the primary purpose of typing.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: gr1m on Thu, 22 July 2010, 10:47:11: Quote from: washuai;205177
I just want to sit someone down at a moving keyboard, without them knowing it moves. I think it'd make a great practical joke. Still, reactions to blank and rearranged keys are good enough.

Or take a screenshot of a desktop with icons and taskbars and all and then set it as the wallpaper and hide the taskbar and icons and whatnot.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 22 July 2010, 10:51:11: Notice the curious arrangement with the numeric and inverted-T cursor keys! The Up key is between 0 and Enter. The large key to the left of them is not comma -- it is delete!
I am talking about the black keyboard in the picture, not the "silver" one in the video.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:09:59: Who needs a motorized keyboard?
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:14:49: (http://www.mrmartinweb.com/images/type/selectric.jpg)
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:15:47: That's a typewriter. Not a motorized computer keyboard.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:25:59: Depends on how it's hooked up

(http://www.chilton-computing.org.uk/gallery/ral/prev/r12600hb.jpg)

That woman looks like she is bored out of her skull.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:54:06: I feel about the same way she does right now.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 22 July 2010, 11:59:22: That's a sign that you need to get off the computer.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Tiberian on Thu, 22 July 2010, 13:47:50: Kind of a ridiculous idea in my opinion.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 22 July 2010, 15:39:16: Quote from: ch_123;205277
That woman looks like she is bored out of her skull.

I prefer to think that she has been up programming for 48 hours straight.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 22 July 2010, 15:57:51: I really like the concept. I swap keyboards and mice regularly to combat RSI, so something like this could be a real benefit.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: Rajagra on Thu, 22 July 2010, 16:48:43: Quote from: input nirvana;205155
Show Image
(http://www.smartfishtechnologies.com/images/img-keyboard01.png)

It does look good IMO. Took me a while to work out what it reminded me of - the Neo Geo console and joystick.

I think the idea is interesting but can't help thinking there has to be a simpler way to achieve the same result. The mouse they do is of more appeal to me.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Thu, 22 July 2010, 17:03:02: Quote from: ch_123;205281
That's a sign that you need to get off the computer.

I was actually at work where I had to be using the computer.
Title: Usb motorized keyboard
Post by: hoggy on Fri, 23 July 2010, 01:07:02: Quote from: didjamatic;205424
I really like the concept. I swap keyboards and mice regularly to combat RSI, so something like this could be a real benefit.

I do this as well. I suspect that swapping boards - especially if they are quite different would work a bit better than the motorised keyboard. However, it was this keyboard that gave me the idea to do that.

There seems to be a vagueness about how often it moves, and by how much - or a least there was when I emailed smartfish a while ago.